Kenya Launches National Conservation Strategy to Boost Rhinos
Black rhino population crash
- Black rhino suffered a catastrophic decline across Africa in the 1970s and 1980s, both in numbers and in the extent of its range. Numbers plummeted from an estimated 65,000 in 1970 to fewer than 2,500 by 1992.
- The decline in the eastern black rhino in East Africa was particularly severe. The black rhino dropped in numbers in Kenya from an estimated 20,000 in 1970 to under 350 animals by 1990. Illegal demand for rhino horn resulting in poaching was, and continues to be, the major threat. All remaining subspecies of black rhino are listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species and Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The black rhino is also listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
- Currently Kenya holds 540 black rhinos while the world’s total black rhino population is estimated at 3,725.
November 2007. Kenya has unveiled a new national five year strategy to increase the number of the endangered rhinos. The 2007-2011 Conservation and Management Strategy for the Black Rhino in Kenya and Management Guidelines for the White Rhino in Kenya aims to raise the number of black rhinos from the current 540 black rhinos to 700 by 2011.
Target of 2000 rhinos
The strategy is part of a bigger plan to raise the number of rhinos in Kenya to 2000 in the next 25 years after they were nearly wiped out by poachers in the 1970s and 80s.
Kenya will also explore regional cooperation through a proposal seeking the establishment of an East African Rhino Management Group that will set protocols for exchanging and managing the eastern black rhinos within East Africa.
Since a Presidential decree in 1985 to establish a rhino conservation programme after a massive poaching crisis, Kenya has become a major player in Africa with the third largest black rhino population after South Africa and Namibia.
New habitats
Speaking at the launch of the strategy in Nairobi, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) director Julius Kipng’etich said the target of 2000 rhinos would require extension beyond protected and fenced areas to the extensive rangelands and intact habitats in Meru, Tsavo and semi-arid Northern Kenya. The resources to realize the ambitious plan would come from KWS internal revenue, government and development partners.
The strategy is part of a bigger plan to raise the number of rhinos in Kenya to 2000 in the next 25 years after they were nearly wiped out by poachers in the 1970s and 80s.
Kenya will also explore regional cooperation through a proposal seeking the establishment of an East African Rhino Management Group that will set protocols for exchanging and managing the eastern black rhinos within East Africa.
Since a Presidential decree in 1985 to establish a rhino conservation programme after a massive poaching crisis, Kenya has become a major player in Africa with the third largest black rhino population after South Africa and Namibia.
New habitats
Speaking at the launch of the strategy in Nairobi, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) director Julius Kipng’etich said the target of 2000 rhinos would require extension beyond protected and fenced areas to the extensive rangelands and intact habitats in Meru, Tsavo and semi-arid Northern Kenya. The resources to realize the ambitious plan would come from KWS internal revenue, government and development partners.
Heavy poaching
Among Kenya’s wildlife species, the rhino has suffered most from poaching and habitat destruction. The population is still small, so a major calamity like a disease outbreak could threaten the whole population.
‘The poaching threat has largely been managed but it has not gone;’ Mr Kipng’etich said. He added that the survival of the rhino in the longer term would depend on good science, intensified protection, sustained monitoring and community engagement and learning from previous lessons. In addition, the private, community and county council lands will continue playing their important role in adding to the National Park and private ranches’ populations. They provide an opportunity to increase rhino numbers.
‘The model of community sanctuaries has worked well and offers an additional frontier in growing our rhino numbers,’ Mr Kipng’etich said.
Among Kenya’s wildlife species, the rhino has suffered most from poaching and habitat destruction. The population is still small, so a major calamity like a disease outbreak could threaten the whole population.
‘The poaching threat has largely been managed but it has not gone;’ Mr Kipng’etich said. He added that the survival of the rhino in the longer term would depend on good science, intensified protection, sustained monitoring and community engagement and learning from previous lessons. In addition, the private, community and county council lands will continue playing their important role in adding to the National Park and private ranches’ populations. They provide an opportunity to increase rhino numbers.
‘The model of community sanctuaries has worked well and offers an additional frontier in growing our rhino numbers,’ Mr Kipng’etich said.
Southern White rhino introductions
KWS also recognises the role that southern white rhinos that were imported from South Africa play a part in Kenya’s wildlife tourism and education and its importance to the conservation of the indigenous eastern black rhino. White rhinos would be introduced in community areas to boost tourism because they are easier to see than the black rhino.
For this reason, KWS and its conservation partners have developed guidelines to improve the management of this species of white rhino introduced in Kenya. The southern white rhino will also contribute to the conservation of this species globally but also and perhaps more importantly, serves as a possible reservoir of white rhino for Northern Africa.
The launch of the rhino strategy comes ahead of others next year for the elephant, Grevy zebra, lion, spotted hyena and wild dog which are in preparation.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a state corporation established by the Act of Parliament, CAP 376, with a mandate for wildlife conservation and management in Kenya. It also has a sole jurisdiction over 26 national parks and oversight role in the management of 33 national reserves and private sanctuaries. www.kws.org
KWS also recognises the role that southern white rhinos that were imported from South Africa play a part in Kenya’s wildlife tourism and education and its importance to the conservation of the indigenous eastern black rhino. White rhinos would be introduced in community areas to boost tourism because they are easier to see than the black rhino.
For this reason, KWS and its conservation partners have developed guidelines to improve the management of this species of white rhino introduced in Kenya. The southern white rhino will also contribute to the conservation of this species globally but also and perhaps more importantly, serves as a possible reservoir of white rhino for Northern Africa.
The launch of the rhino strategy comes ahead of others next year for the elephant, Grevy zebra, lion, spotted hyena and wild dog which are in preparation.
Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) is a state corporation established by the Act of Parliament, CAP 376, with a mandate for wildlife conservation and management in Kenya. It also has a sole jurisdiction over 26 national parks and oversight role in the management of 33 national reserves and private sanctuaries. www.kws.org